Haitian Kreyol Names

The children across the street were piling up the leaves in Madame Augustin’s yard. The bigger ones waited on line as the smaller ones dropped onto the pile, bouncing to their feet, shrieking and laughing. They called one another’s names: Foi, Hope, Faith, Espérance, Beloved, God-Given, My Joy, First Born, Last Born, Aséfi, Enough-Girls, Enough-Boys, Deliverance, Small Misery, Big Misery, No Misery. Names as bright and colorful as the giant poincianas in Madame Augustin’s garden.

— Edwige Danticat, Breath, Eyes, Memory

Rural Haitians have a long tradition of names in Kreyol—not Kreyolized names like Jan-Jak for Jean-Jacques (although there’s a tradition of that, too), but names composed of Kreyol words. Some are religious: God-Is-So-Great, God-Given, Jesus-Is-Here. Others are the parents’ wishes for their family: Enough-Boys for a son born after a long string of boys, Enough-Girls for a daughter born after a long string of girls. Or the parents’ wishes for their child: No-Misery, Faith, Hope.

Non-Haitian parents looking for a Haitian name for their child should be aware that middle- and upper-class Haitians think these names are hilaaaarious. With the exception of some of the Dieu- names, these names are borne mainly by peasants, so middle- and upper-class Haitians think they’re too hick for words, the Haitian equivalent of Jimbo, Billy-Bob, and Cletus. When I was collecting Kreyol names, the richest source by far was Haitian-run comment threads with titles like “Funny Haitian Names,” “Ugly Haitian Names,” and “Names I Would Never Give My Baby.” While these names are beautiful and evocative, you may want to think twice about giving one to your own child.

Some of the names on this list, particularly names beginning with Ti-, “little,” are nicknames rather than formal names. I’ve put them on the list for two reasons: First, because rural Haitians often go by nicknames that are so strongly associated with the person that they effectively become the person’s real name. And second, because I can’t tell the difference. Aheh. If you know more about Haitian names and want to weigh in on this, comment below.

Male Names

Name	Meaning
Apredieu, Apredye	Apres Dieu = after God
Amondieu
Aselhomme, Aselom, Aselòm	Assez l’homme = enough males/men/boys. A name given to a boy born after a long string of boys, in the hopes that the next child will be a girl. The female equivalent is Asefi.
Beniswa, Benisoit	Blessed be
Charitab	Charitable, merciful, kind
Delivrans	Deliverance (also the Kreyol name for Passover)
Dieudonné, Dyedoné	Dieu donne = God-given
Dieujuste	God is just
Dieulifet, Dyelifèt	God was born
Dieumeme, Diemème
Dieumerci, Dyemesi	Dieu merci = God’s mercy
Dieunel
Dieupanou, Diepanou, Dyepanou	Our God, God still lives? God yet lives?
Dieusel,	God alone
Dieusibon, Dyesibon	Dieu est si bon = God is so good
Dieuvilhomme, Dieuvelom	God sees man
Dimase	“Dis-moi, assez” = “Tell me, please”
Dyekifel, Dyekifè, Diekifè	God’s work
Dyelimèn
Dyemima, Dieumima
Dyenò
Elifèt, Elifete, Elifaite, Lifet	And he was born
Jezilóm
Mesidieu, Mesidie, Mèsidye	Merci a Dieu = Thank God
Plairadieu	Will please God
Presandieu
Pwofèt	Prophet
Samféyo, Sanmfeyo	What did I do to them?
Sedieu, Sedye	Cédieu = It is God
Selondieu, Selondye	As per or (by) God
Seradieu	Will be God
Sidyevle	If God wishes, God willing
Silibrèk
Tipiè	Petit Pierre = little Peter
Unseuldieu	One God alone

Female Names

Name	Meaning
Asefanm	Assez femme = Enough females/women. An archetypal peasant name.
Asefi, Acephie	Assez fille = Enough girls. THE archetypal peasant name. Vanishingly rare in real life, but a list of Haitian teachers mentions an Acefie born in 1979, a Marie Acephie born in 1980, an Acephie born in 1981, and an Acephise born in 1988.
Dazimèn
Dejafet
Dielda
Dieula, Dyela	God is there
Dieulene
Dieulila
Dyedonn, Diyedon	God-given. Nickname: Don
Dyemima, Dieumima
Jésula, Jezula	“Jesus is here.” One of the most popular female names.
Kristela, Christella, Cristla	Christ est la = Christ is here (was there?)
Maffi, Mafi	Ma fille = my daughter
Matila
Mesibon
Nadiyo	We’ll tell them
Nanpwenfanm, Nanprenfanm	A quintessentially peasant name that Haitians online consider a joke. I couldn’t find any references to actual people bearing this name.
Saintanise, Sentaniz	This name is given to young female servants.
Sanité	Health, sanity
Selavi	C’est la vie = That’s life
Sia	The saw
Sipòtè	Supporter
Ti Ma Fille, Ti Maffi, Timafi	Petite ma fille = my little girl
Tifiyèt	Petite fillette = little girl
Timizè	Little misery
Timizè	Little misery
Tise	Petite Soeur = Little sister
Viergela	“The Virgin (Mary) is here.”

Names in Progress

These names are a mishmash of real names that I haven’t assigned a sex to and names that Kreyol speakers listed as Kreyol names, but I haven’t verified that they’re real.

Name	Meaning
Lomeyis
Abulis
Achouboune	x
Bien-Aimee	Loving well / Good loving
Bonne Annee	Happy New Year
Brayis	x
Celisa	se li sa – a man
Chaleyis
Dezilom	men desire
Dezonè	Dishonest
Diekibay, Dieukibay	God who gives (God’s gift?)
Diekifel
Douela	Dwe La
Dyefò (Dieufort)
Dyekidon	“Dieu qui donne” = “It is God who gives”
Dyekilfè	Dieu qui il fait?
Dyekiswa	“Dieu qui soit”
dyelane
Dyeloude
Dyenè
Dyener
Foi	Faith
Jan’l pase’l pase	Its whatever
Jantwa vese seize	John 3:16
Jezisel	Only Jesus
Jolikè, Jolicœur	Joli cœur = pretty heart
Lamesi
Madichon	Is not afraid of anything; also means “a curse (malediction)”
MADYòK
Maledi	Malady, sickness
MIKRòBRE	x
Miraksen	Saint’s miracle – can’t find a real person with this name
Mwenla	I’m here
Nanmlanfe	nanm lanfe? – “Soul from Hell,” the name of a sorceror
Naweyo
Naweyo
Nondila
Prantout	Pren tout = Take it all
Sambalè
Selibon
Semafot	It is my fault
Serès
Silfiz
Silvini	Please come
Simentor	si mwen en tort
Sivadye	Si Dieu y va = If God goes – Can’t find a real person with this name
Soukontdye	In the care of God
Tanpousa
Tikal
Tonyen	x
Yagade	They will see
Yalo	They are here

Notes

These are some of the things other people have said about Kreyol names. Translations are mine, heavily assisted by Google Translate.

Dans le temps ceux qui donnaient des noms purement Créoles à leurs enfants, des noms comme Aselòm, Nanpwenfanm, Serès, Asefi, Tikal, Selibon, Charitab, Matila, Nondila, Konmedi, Dyekilfè, etaient ceux qui n’avaient pas une éducation avancée. Beaucoup de ces enfants changeaient de noms dès qu’ils en avaient l’opportunité.

— Marc-Arthur Pierre-Louis, “Impraticabilités Dues à la Structure de l’Alphabet du Créole Haïtien: Éléments de Remédiation“

In the times when people gave names that were purely Kreyol to their children, names like Aselòm, Nanpwenfanm, Serès, Asefi, Tikal, Selibon, Charitab, Matila, Nondila, Konmedi, Dyekilfè, were those who didn’t have an advanced education. Many of these children changed their names as soon as they had the opportunity.

Listwa de chanje you boujwazi ki gen non tankou Mews, Apaid e latriye pou you lot boujwazi ki rele Liziys, Joksibren, Nanpwenfan-m, se konpotman reyaksyonè se pa pran bagay yo anfas, an moun responsab pou jwenn solisyon ak pwoblè-m divizyon sosyal kap demantibile ayiti depi 200 zan. [link]

A Facebook post:

MEN LIS ANSYEN NON MOUN TE GENYEN LONTAN
[Translation: This is a list of names that people have had for a long time?] ________________
Selimèn, Agramèn,Lisifi, Toufèt, Resifèt, Katè, Wozàn,Wozèt Lifèt,Tonwal, Tipoban, Anèl, Nikodèm, Dyefèt, Dili, Tikanje, Achòpè, Asefi, Ifola, Lòlòm, Nanpwenfanm, Anayiz, Wózelya,Toufèt, Analya,kristela, TiJedi, Tilendi,Timadi, Tipa,Tipapa, Loubè Kasayòl, Adoudoun, Fimant, Tikanjis, Lola, Leni, Lavilèn, Lèlè, Lèlènn, Padisa, Achipwèt, Kwekwey, Charitab, Chalvire, Jò, Fito, Zakari, Maselòm, Lavilya, Prisil, Seliròz, Rozbeta, Ròrò, Mesiyis, Tannpoutann, Mesidye, Dyevelòm, Sentilya, Sentelya,Dyevela,Tinènès, Ase, Previlòm, Timan, Anriyèt, Sifrayèl, Frafràn, Tidyo, Veve, Tiverite, Lòryez, Zèt, Idalèn,Timamoun, Jezila, Dyedisil, Timantoun, Fito, Meryèz, Loulou Alsiyis, Ensèl, Menfisto, Asela Bwawon, Bwalong, Sapirèd, Dyesel, Lompadye, Angela, Tibobo, Vilason,Vilè,Tipòl, Baki, Tifanfan, Tipouchon, Abelina, Joksina, Degwenn, Dagiz, Vèn, Alouwèt, Dekatrèl, Lalam, Vèneliz, Prenèl, Zoun, Zeze, Atchoupwet,Pra, Charitès, Wodaliz, Wozdalèn, Adelina, Ketli, Janèt, Venita, Benis, Zabelbok, Timafi, Alenposib, Dyekidi, Sètase, Asefanm, Aselòm, Marinèt, Lanbè, Berelya, Timanmi, Asetwòp, Nanpwenfanm, Tidimanch, Gèda,Tisiwo, Wolèn, Sesenya, Aliz, Aseyis, Datijena, Manouchka, Choukoun, Sizmat, Voupito, Choulout, Gougout, Tata, Vèti, saktadisa, maniz, eritye, maniyis, Sepasa, Sedènye,DènyeSenfleroz,Mesivyej, Dyepifò, Dèdèt, Tiwil Dyedirès, Tisonson, Sonson, Roro, Lèlèn, Layiz, Layite, Jwachen, Lofito, Tètèl, Wendi, Tizo, Anpechman, Sanèt, Fredi, Andrezo, Zopope, Alòmkife, Albè, Anòl, Fifi, Fofo, Tirene, Sensenn, Zozonbi, Jonfèy, Tijoslin, Monèrèz, Mabyal, Alfito, Wenbi, Rochadlin, Azopenp, Tibwa, Bwa, Dyefètout, Tidadou. Titalbè, Anetid, Bètid, Webè, Zetrenn, Zwèzwèt.
___________
sinye ofisye deta sivil:
STEMARX

Sources

For the purposes of this page, I selected names that aren’t Kreyol respellings of established names (Jean-Jacques/Jan-Jak, Rosita/Wozita) and aren’t French-style combinations of a root with a name ending (Widelene, Dervens). I preferred names with a known meaning, especially since Kreyol speakers’ lists of names included insults and rare, specialized, or fictional names (Nanmlanfe, “Soul from Hell,” a fictional sorceror) that wouldn’t be used as ordinary birth names.

French names like Dieudonne, Dieufort, and Benisoit are in a fuzzy area–if they have a plain meaning in ordinary French, and it’s a meaning that resonates with Kreyol speakers, based on the meanings of known Kreyol names, does the French name effectively become Kreyol? I’m all over the place on this one, so some of these names will appear and others won’t until I make up my mind.

As I said in the introduction, the richest source of Kreyol names is comment threads. For names gleaned from comment threads, I accept them if they appear on more than one thread and there’s proof that real people bore them. My testing procedure, highly scientific, is:

1. Enter the name into Facebook and see whether there are Haitian users who use the name as a personal name, not a family name, and who are obviously not pseudonymous. For example, the name Dieumima pulls up well over a dozen results, all of Haitian women with a random selection of common last names (that is, last names that don’t look like they were chosen to combine with Dieumima to mean something). On the other hand, Nanpwenfanm brings up three users—one empty account, one nearly empty account, and one account with the last name “Asefi,” a name that combines thematically with Nanpwenfanm. The last user also lists another name under Nan Pwen Fanm Asefi. Facebook proves that Dieumima is a name in use, but if Nanpwenfanm is a real name, it’s not used among Haitians educated and advantaged enough to be on Facebook.
2. If Facebook fails, Google the name and its alternate spellings. Any of these sources are acceptable:
   • A book written by a Haitian or a visitor to Haiti that uses the name to refer to either a real person, or a character who is meant to be realistic.
   • A blog post or web page written by a Haitian or a visitor to Haiti that uses the name to refer to a real person.
   • A news article that uses the name to refer to a real person.
3. If references to real people fail, multiple references from scholarly or reasonably well-informed sources can do in a pinch. For example, Nanpwenfanm doesn’t appear as the name of any real person, but a scholarly paper on the Kreyol alphabet, a semi-scholarly comment thread on writing names with Kreyol spelling, and a book with a short list of both list it as a typical Kreyol name. The lists aren’t duplicates, so they’re not all cribbing from the same source. I’m willing to accept that at some point, Nanpwenfanm was a real name.